What happened when Arber Xhekaj watched Florian Xhekaj fight during the Montreal Canadiens NHL preseason
The Montreal Canadiens began their NHL preseason with two split-squad games against the Toronto Maple Leafs on Saturday, Sept. 19. Arber Xhekaj skated with the Montreal group at Bell Centre, while Florian Xhekaj joined the Canadiens squad in Toronto.
The brothers were at the heart of one of the night's more strange moments. Toronto Maple Leafs defenseman Marshall Rifai fought Florian at Scotiabank Arena while Arber was serving a two-minute roughing penalty in Montreal.
Arber Xhekaj watches Florian Xhekaj fight during NHL preseasonArber Xhekaj saw his brother Florian Xhekaj’s fight from the Montreal Canadiens bench after a staff member showed him the footage on a phone during a stoppage in play. Sportsnet cameras caught Arber leaning over to watch action from the other preseason game.
The two Montreal Canadiens groups were in different cities playing at the same time, so Arber couldn’t watch Florian’s fight live from the ice. In between whistles, a staff member pulled out a phone and showed Arber the footage.
He watched the fight immediately, and I was fired up seeing it, Arber said after Montreal’s 4-3 overtime win. He also texted Florian afterwards.
What happened between Florian Xhekaj and Marshall Rifai?Florian Xhekaj was in the fight with Marshall Rifai, as Montreal takes down the Toronto Maple Leafs 4-1 in Toronto. Younger Xhekaj also recorded an assist, adding another notable contribution during an important preseason opportunity.
Florian is battling for a regular NHL roster spot after spending the majority of last season with the Laval Rocket. He played in five NHL games last season, but his physical game has still been a big part of his game.
Montreal won a pair of split-squad games against Toronto, taking a 4-3 overtime victory at Bell Center and a 4-1 decision at Scotiabank Arena. Montreal’s Cole Caufield scored in overtime, and Phillip Danault scored twice in Toronto.
The results also provided Montreal with a handful of preseason storylines outside of the Xhekaj brothers, including good showings from other players competing for roster spots. But the rare moment of viewing the penalty box gave Arber and Florian one of the more memorable NHL moments of the night.
Arber Xhekaj found himself in an unlikely spot for an NHL preseason moment: the penalty box for the Montreal Canadiens as he watched his younger brother, Florian Xhekaj, fight. Arber was in Bell Center, Florian in Toronto, as the split-squad teams from Montreal met the Toronto Maple Leafs in different cities.
During a stoppage, Arber watched video of Florian fighting Toronto Maple Leafs defenseman Marshall Rifai on a member of the staff’s phone. Florian also had an assist in Montreal's 4-1 victory in Toronto, while Arber's team won 4-3 in overtime. The brothers’ shared moment of preseason play gave an enjoyable family storyline on Montreal’s opening night.
The brothers were at the heart of one of the night's more strange moments. Toronto Maple Leafs defenseman Marshall Rifai fought Florian at Scotiabank Arena while Arber was serving a two-minute roughing penalty in Montreal.
Arber Xhekaj watches Florian Xhekaj fight during NHL preseasonArber Xhekaj saw his brother Florian Xhekaj’s fight from the Montreal Canadiens bench after a staff member showed him the footage on a phone during a stoppage in play. Sportsnet cameras caught Arber leaning over to watch action from the other preseason game.
The two Montreal Canadiens groups were in different cities playing at the same time, so Arber couldn’t watch Florian’s fight live from the ice. In between whistles, a staff member pulled out a phone and showed Arber the footage.
He watched the fight immediately, and I was fired up seeing it, Arber said after Montreal’s 4-3 overtime win. He also texted Florian afterwards.
What happened between Florian Xhekaj and Marshall Rifai?Florian Xhekaj was in the fight with Marshall Rifai, as Montreal takes down the Toronto Maple Leafs 4-1 in Toronto. Younger Xhekaj also recorded an assist, adding another notable contribution during an important preseason opportunity.
Florian is battling for a regular NHL roster spot after spending the majority of last season with the Laval Rocket. He played in five NHL games last season, but his physical game has still been a big part of his game.
Montreal won a pair of split-squad games against Toronto, taking a 4-3 overtime victory at Bell Center and a 4-1 decision at Scotiabank Arena. Montreal’s Cole Caufield scored in overtime, and Phillip Danault scored twice in Toronto.
The results also provided Montreal with a handful of preseason storylines outside of the Xhekaj brothers, including good showings from other players competing for roster spots. But the rare moment of viewing the penalty box gave Arber and Florian one of the more memorable NHL moments of the night.
Arber Xhekaj found himself in an unlikely spot for an NHL preseason moment: the penalty box for the Montreal Canadiens as he watched his younger brother, Florian Xhekaj, fight. Arber was in Bell Center, Florian in Toronto, as the split-squad teams from Montreal met the Toronto Maple Leafs in different cities.
During a stoppage, Arber watched video of Florian fighting Toronto Maple Leafs defenseman Marshall Rifai on a member of the staff’s phone. Florian also had an assist in Montreal's 4-1 victory in Toronto, while Arber's team won 4-3 in overtime. The brothers’ shared moment of preseason play gave an enjoyable family storyline on Montreal’s opening night.
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